What better time of year to talk about giving and generosity than Christmas? And while so often the focus is placed on the gifts we want or our lists to Santa, it is our generosity that truly makes the holidays a joy to us. This month we've taken a non-typical approach to the Christmas season by not focusing so much on the Christmas story itself, but in our attitudes toward stuff and others. In the first week of December, we talking about the parable Rich Fool who had such excess that he tore down his large barns to build larger ones to contain his grain. Our stuff shouldn't get in the way of loving others and sharing with them. The second week was all about the Rich Young Ruler who was great at following commandments but loved his wealth and stuff more than God. He went away sad because his stuff got in the way of his relationship with God. And the third week we are talking about the most extreme generosity there is: sharing the greatest Gift of all with others. There is no better way to make someone's day - or existence - than by sharing the Gospel. That the God of the universe sent His only son to become a man, to live a perfect life as an example to us and ultimately die so that we would have the opportunity to be reconciled with God. And as we celebrate his birth and the fulfillment of God's promise to mankind through this messiah, we can't help but focus on the privilege we have to share the Good News with everyone we can.
Merry Christmas!!!
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
Christmas in Mexico
This year our focus in Children's Ministry is going to be on Christmas in Mexico. Christmas in Mexico provides a poverty stricken child in Mexico with a Christmas gift, likely to be the only gift they’ll receive for Christmas. The gift also provides an opportunity for the local church to minister to families, invite them to church, and share Christmas love.
For our 4th and 5th graders, we are challenging them all to put together a gift box to send to Mexico. We will have envelopes with instructions the first weekend in December in our Preteen class, or you can pick one up in the foyer at the Christmas in Mexico display. Follow the instructions in the envelope which include purchasing gift/s valued $10 to $20 and placing them in a plastic shoe-box sized container. Wrap the gift in wrapping paper with the enclosed green sticker filled out and drop off in the foyer of the church no later than Sunday, December 11th at noon.
We're hoping to have dozens of gifts from our preteens alone as we are blessed with the opportunity to live out our December virtue of Generosity. Encourage your preteen to get involved and talk through the experience together. It will be a great way to kick off the Christmas season!
For our 4th and 5th graders, we are challenging them all to put together a gift box to send to Mexico. We will have envelopes with instructions the first weekend in December in our Preteen class, or you can pick one up in the foyer at the Christmas in Mexico display. Follow the instructions in the envelope which include purchasing gift/s valued $10 to $20 and placing them in a plastic shoe-box sized container. Wrap the gift in wrapping paper with the enclosed green sticker filled out and drop off in the foyer of the church no later than Sunday, December 11th at noon.
We're hoping to have dozens of gifts from our preteens alone as we are blessed with the opportunity to live out our December virtue of Generosity. Encourage your preteen to get involved and talk through the experience together. It will be a great way to kick off the Christmas season!
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Gratitude, of course...
There are a couple times a year when the virtue that we focus on lines up completely with the focus of our society. November is one of those months as we look at the virtue of Gratitude. Thanksgiving is a great time of year to focus on all the great and wonderful things in our lives that God has blessed us with. But we're called to have a spirit of gratitude all the time, in all situations, not just once a year. And with most things, it is an extension of our outlook and attitude.
Our verse for the month is 1 Thessalonians 5:18, "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." We know how easy it is to give thanks when things go well, but it's looking for the positive things that aren't always as easy to see when times are tough that makes living out this verse so hard. But we know that God is in control, that He is working all things out for those that follow Him and that growth and reliance come out of trials and suffering. When we focus on that, our attitude can be adjusted to make the most of all situations and be thankful for any number of things.
As parents, this is such an important thing to model for our kids as so much of their perspective is formed directly from the way they see the the adults in their lives respond when things don't go according to plan. It's hard to always be positive and to look for ways to be thankful when life gets tough, but it is essential at this age in particular. Talk to your child about different ways to look at situations. Ask them questions that get them thinking about both sides of their attitude and the effects they can have on others when they don't show an attitude of gratitude. Look for examples of people who respond poorly and ask them what they think could have been done instead.
Our verse for the month is 1 Thessalonians 5:18, "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." We know how easy it is to give thanks when things go well, but it's looking for the positive things that aren't always as easy to see when times are tough that makes living out this verse so hard. But we know that God is in control, that He is working all things out for those that follow Him and that growth and reliance come out of trials and suffering. When we focus on that, our attitude can be adjusted to make the most of all situations and be thankful for any number of things.
As parents, this is such an important thing to model for our kids as so much of their perspective is formed directly from the way they see the the adults in their lives respond when things don't go according to plan. It's hard to always be positive and to look for ways to be thankful when life gets tough, but it is essential at this age in particular. Talk to your child about different ways to look at situations. Ask them questions that get them thinking about both sides of their attitude and the effects they can have on others when they don't show an attitude of gratitude. Look for examples of people who respond poorly and ask them what they think could have been done instead.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Creativity
If you’re anything like me, you might look at Creativity and think that it is a little misplaced as a virtue, especially having just come off of the virtues of Faith and Grace. Afterall, there are lots of creative people out there that don’t have a virtuous bone in their body. But, as we often say around the Grade School ministry, a virtue is something God does in us to change the world around us. And there are few things that change the world around us more than Creativity. Just the fact that we are designed and created in the image of a very, very creative God speaks volumes to how important Creativity is and how ingrained it is in aspects of worship, communication and the church itself. And while creativity certainly encompasses art forms such as painting, dance and music, there are hundreds of other ways for us to be creative and for that creativity to be used to change the world around us.
This month we will be looking at the unique ways that God has designed each of us to work creatively in His Kingdom. From the story of creation, the ingenious plan to save baby Moses and David's final words, we see how creativity plays a pivotal role in the lives of the people in the Bible. And how we can use the creativity God has given us to be salt and light to a world that desperately needs Him.
You may not think that you are creative. You may not look at your ability to think, design, figure out or manage as being creative traits, but be assured, they are and they are put there by a loving Creator as a reflection of Himself. As you talk with your child, consider the following: Which ways do you feel like you are most creative? How can you use your creativity to help others? How can you serve God with your creativity? What makes your creativity unique from those around you?
This month we will be looking at the unique ways that God has designed each of us to work creatively in His Kingdom. From the story of creation, the ingenious plan to save baby Moses and David's final words, we see how creativity plays a pivotal role in the lives of the people in the Bible. And how we can use the creativity God has given us to be salt and light to a world that desperately needs Him.
You may not think that you are creative. You may not look at your ability to think, design, figure out or manage as being creative traits, but be assured, they are and they are put there by a loving Creator as a reflection of Himself. As you talk with your child, consider the following: Which ways do you feel like you are most creative? How can you use your creativity to help others? How can you serve God with your creativity? What makes your creativity unique from those around you?
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Meals@Home
This weekend, Pastor Steve will be introducing the newest Home Pointe initiative: Meals@Home. This latest challenge is for families to invest in one another by committing to spend at least three meals a week together for the next 120 days. While this might appear simplistic, the statistics show that not only are families eating less together because of hectic schedules and general "busyness", but that those families that don't engage in family meals see more problems with choices that their children make as they grow.
For our part, the Children's Ministry will be sending home placemats with your child this week, not only offering ideas for discussion but also giving them activities to engage in with you during your meal time. Make sure you talk to them about the Meals@Home campaign as well as ask them about their placemat. It is our prayer that these tools would allow you to grow closer with one another during this time and that Meals@Home would become a part of your life for years to come.
For more information, visit http://www.lakepointe.org/Build/StartingAtHome.aspx
For our part, the Children's Ministry will be sending home placemats with your child this week, not only offering ideas for discussion but also giving them activities to engage in with you during your meal time. Make sure you talk to them about the Meals@Home campaign as well as ask them about their placemat. It is our prayer that these tools would allow you to grow closer with one another during this time and that Meals@Home would become a part of your life for years to come.
For more information, visit http://www.lakepointe.org/Build/StartingAtHome.aspx
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Grace
For the month of September, we will be talking about the virtue of Grace. As a society focused on appearing flawless and giving the illusion of perfection, this virtue is probably the most important one we'll focus on this year. It is the lack of grace that causes so many to display a facade of themselves rather than being vulnerable and transparent with one another. The absence of grace has also given the Church and Christians the distinction as being hypocritical, judgemental and fake. Grace toward one another is fundamental to the way the world views us and the One that we follow. And, of course, that's not even mentioning the most important aspect - the Grace extended to the world by God through His only son.
As we look at the virtue of Grace over the month, we will examine the parable of the lost coin and the the lost sheep. These two stories clearly shows how important all of us are to God, that His grace is available to all and that seeking us is His priority, in spite of our sin. The final three weeks will be spent looking at the parable of the Prodigal Son. While clearly a story of the father's grace in welcoming his son back home, there are also lessons of grace to be learned in the way the younger son allowed grace to be extended to him and how the older son refused to extend any grace at all.
As you talk with your child, consider the following questions: Who do you tend to extend grace? Who do you find it hard to show grace? What makes grace so hard to give? What makes grace so hard to accept when you mess up? Why should we show grace to others? What would happen if no one showed grace?
As we look at the virtue of Grace over the month, we will examine the parable of the lost coin and the the lost sheep. These two stories clearly shows how important all of us are to God, that His grace is available to all and that seeking us is His priority, in spite of our sin. The final three weeks will be spent looking at the parable of the Prodigal Son. While clearly a story of the father's grace in welcoming his son back home, there are also lessons of grace to be learned in the way the younger son allowed grace to be extended to him and how the older son refused to extend any grace at all.
As you talk with your child, consider the following questions: Who do you tend to extend grace? Who do you find it hard to show grace? What makes grace so hard to give? What makes grace so hard to accept when you mess up? Why should we show grace to others? What would happen if no one showed grace?
Thursday, August 25, 2011
SURGE
One of the primary reasons that we, the body of Christ, gather together to do this thing we call "church" is so that we may sharpen one another and encourage each other in our faith. And while this certainly happens on the weekend during our corporate worship and Bible study times, there is a need for deeper commitment, relationships and discussion of the Word in the lives of Christians. For adults, this happens in Growth Groups and with accountability partners. In our student ministry, it takes place within Discipleship Groups, or DGs. And for our preteens, it happens at Surge!
Surge is a fantastic introduction to discipleship for our grade school-aged kids. It meets on Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 8:00 in room 143. Surge requires weekly commitments to both attendance and study as well as opportunities to serve the local community and participate in a mission trip during Spring Break.
If your child is interested, pick up an application this weekend or visit lpkids.com/firewheel and click on the Surge icon to download a copy of the application. The cost is $25 a year and the first class begins on September 14th.
Surge is a fantastic introduction to discipleship for our grade school-aged kids. It meets on Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 8:00 in room 143. Surge requires weekly commitments to both attendance and study as well as opportunities to serve the local community and participate in a mission trip during Spring Break.
If your child is interested, pick up an application this weekend or visit lpkids.com/firewheel and click on the Surge icon to download a copy of the application. The cost is $25 a year and the first class begins on September 14th.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Promotion and the month of August
All summer we've been talking about Faith, looking first at the life of Paul and the leaps of faith that he took as he set out to share the gospel with the Gentiles and then at the book of Hebrews and some of the heros of faith recorded there. While faith, in theory, is relatively easy to discuss, it is somewhat harder to put into action. For the last two weeks in August, we'll be looking at the lives of Joseph and Moses.
Joseph's faith is one of patience and perseverance, being sold into captivity, falsely accused of crimes, imprisoned for years before finally rising to the second in command over all of Egypt. But his faith was never wrapped up in his circumstances, but rather, in the fact that even in the midst of his trials, God was with him.
Moses' story looks much different as he is asked to do some big things. Not just normal big things, but scary, intimidating big things. Things that might cost him his life. And while we might think of a leader rushing in to start an uprising that would liberate a people, Moses came in armed with a staff and a mighty God who was holding ten plagues to be used to exclaim His own glory.
What kind of faith do we exhibit on a daily basis? How do we respond in faith to trials? How do we respond in faith to great challenges? What holds us back from having faith? Who is someone you look up to because of their faith?
Joseph's faith is one of patience and perseverance, being sold into captivity, falsely accused of crimes, imprisoned for years before finally rising to the second in command over all of Egypt. But his faith was never wrapped up in his circumstances, but rather, in the fact that even in the midst of his trials, God was with him.
Moses' story looks much different as he is asked to do some big things. Not just normal big things, but scary, intimidating big things. Things that might cost him his life. And while we might think of a leader rushing in to start an uprising that would liberate a people, Moses came in armed with a staff and a mighty God who was holding ten plagues to be used to exclaim His own glory.
What kind of faith do we exhibit on a daily basis? How do we respond in faith to trials? How do we respond in faith to great challenges? What holds us back from having faith? Who is someone you look up to because of their faith?
Monday, April 11, 2011
A note to parents:
Hello!
If you're reading this blog, it is probably because you have a preteen (which, like the phrase or not, that is what your 4th and 5th grader is) and are interested in the best possible way to partner with us, your church, in seeing that they have the best chance to know, love and follow Jesus. If that is the case, then you are absolutely in the right place.
The goal of this blog is very simple: to give parents (that's you) another tool to meet your child where they are on their spiritual path as they grow in their relationship with Christ. While church (that's us) is a fantastic place for the body of Christ to gather together, encouage, serve, worship and learn with others, it is not the primary source for the spiritual formation of us as individuals. That source is, and always has been, the home. Not only that, but God has designed for you, the parent, to be the spiritual leaders of that home. Our job is simply to assist you in that process by affirming what you're already teaching and providing the best opportunities for those conversations to happen in a natural way.
So, aside from keeping you in the loop with what we're talking about each weekend in our preteen Bible studies, we'll be providing you with different information, resources and opportunities as you build into your preteen's spiritual formation. Not to mention keeping you up to date with all of the exciting things that are happening within our growing ministry.
Check back often for updates and information. If you haven't yet, please visit the newly designed children's ministry website at lpkids.com and make sure to like us at our lpkids - Firewheel page on Facebook. We look forward to continuing to partner with you and seeing God work in the lives of your 4th and 5th grader.
If you're reading this blog, it is probably because you have a preteen (which, like the phrase or not, that is what your 4th and 5th grader is) and are interested in the best possible way to partner with us, your church, in seeing that they have the best chance to know, love and follow Jesus. If that is the case, then you are absolutely in the right place.
The goal of this blog is very simple: to give parents (that's you) another tool to meet your child where they are on their spiritual path as they grow in their relationship with Christ. While church (that's us) is a fantastic place for the body of Christ to gather together, encouage, serve, worship and learn with others, it is not the primary source for the spiritual formation of us as individuals. That source is, and always has been, the home. Not only that, but God has designed for you, the parent, to be the spiritual leaders of that home. Our job is simply to assist you in that process by affirming what you're already teaching and providing the best opportunities for those conversations to happen in a natural way.
So, aside from keeping you in the loop with what we're talking about each weekend in our preteen Bible studies, we'll be providing you with different information, resources and opportunities as you build into your preteen's spiritual formation. Not to mention keeping you up to date with all of the exciting things that are happening within our growing ministry.
Check back often for updates and information. If you haven't yet, please visit the newly designed children's ministry website at lpkids.com and make sure to like us at our lpkids - Firewheel page on Facebook. We look forward to continuing to partner with you and seeing God work in the lives of your 4th and 5th grader.
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